Something About Aaron

Chapter 4 (Almarie's POV)

I awoke to a beautiful sight, Doctor Aaron Quick, sound asleep, in MY bed. My heart began to swell with all the mixed emotions I was feeling. He had stayed the night with me and made no s****l advances. All he did was comfort and care for me. On my face, I can feel his quiet breathing as I studied his. Such close proximity normally makes my skin burn, and the sharp knife of anxiety pierce my chest. This, however, did not bother me. It actually felt... I don’t know... nice? I was awed by how beautiful he was even while sleeping, amazed he had stayed and genuinely seemed to care, as well as... I don’t know... afraid of how or what I was feeling I guess. Trying to dissect all of these emotions is causing my head to spin like a top. Unable to do so. Left uncertain of what all I am feeling exactly stokes the embers of anxiety causing its flames to erupt. Engulfing me, its suffocating grip squeezes my heart tightly, not too keen on letting go. While wracking my brain, trying to find the words to describe these feelings, the most despised persona decides it’s a perfect time to chime in.

"You're falling for him. Quite quickly I might add. Seriously Almarie, you're so dumb and naive." Jack's sardonic tone echoed.

"Oh, hush now Jack," Jupitar responds in a condescending tone trying to silence his unwelcome remarks.

“I am not falling for him. We have only just met. He has been very kind and accepting is all. I think I have found someone I can trust and help me. Honestly, what could it hurt to see where this goes? I don’t see the harm in it as long as I refrain from becoming dependent on him. I am only enjoying his company after a very stressful time. Aaron is my doctor and is here simply on friendly terms. It is for my own personal wellness that he judges if I am fit to be alone or not. We both agreed I wasn’t, the couch is uncomfortable, and considering our situation I thought it would be alright if he stayed in my bed.” I ramble on in a whisper, feeling as though I needed to explain myself to… I guess myself. Considering I was talking to voices, I reckon my needy mind had concocted for some sort of substitute due to my lack of socialization and ability to cope.

“Whatever Almarie. You want nothing more than to be in Mr. Hot Stuff’s pants and because of your reckless irresponsibility you have caught something awful. There is no cure for what your dumb ass has.” Jack rages angrily.

“Jack stop it!” Jupitar commands but once Jack gets going there is no stopping him until he has said his piece.

“Oh really Jack, and what have I caught?” I ask bitterly, confused. I swear if he makes a nasty remark about STDs or some s**t I’ll…

“Feelings Almarie! f*****g feeling you ignorant buffoon.”

“Seriously Jack!” Jupitar screeches at him causing a momentary sharp, stabbing pain behind my right eye. I try to ignore them, kicking them out of the main part of my mind. I pile more bricks onto the mental wall I have created to stifle them back into the recesses of my mind. Having all but reclaimed it as my own, I begin to reflect on the events that brought us here, laying in my bed.

Aaron had come to my aid the minute I was in distress. Seeming more and more like my own personal prince charming. We stopped for a bite to eat and just talked, like normal people do. I couldn’t help but adore the way he talked about sunsets. It was like a real date, which I had never been on.

When our ‘date’ was coming to its end, panic began to bubble up within my chest. Not wanting to do anything I would regret just to avoid being alone, or to find a release of my thoughts and emotions, I confided in Aaron. Something I never did with anyone. I replay the rest of the night in my head causing the butterflies to get excited, tickling my insides.

Leaving the restaurant, I think Aaron could sense my exhaustion. Mentally, emotionally, hell, even physically, I was drained. We didn’t attempt any small talk, just walked hand in hand in comfortable silence to the subway station. During our short ride, I dozed off a bit, my head slumped over onto Aaron’s shoulder. Thankfully he knew where we were going.

Once we had made it back to my small abode, Aaron spoke, breaking our silence. “You’re obviously beat and need to get that cute ass in bed.” He winked with a playful slap to my behind. For a moment, regret seemed to flash across his face, but he just smiled that grin I loved as if it hadn’t. I noticed it though. However slight it may have been, it was there. Maybe we should discuss our relationship? I mean he is my doctor and I, his patient.

Shit, I’m sure as hell not bringing that up. If he decides he wants to talk about it then fine. I’m happy with what we have going on right now and would much rather just continue as we are. I don’t want to go through all that crap of finding another doctor and all that it entails.

Aaron’s voice interrupts my thoughts. “Why don’t you make your way to bed? Don’t worry, obviously, I got the couch.” His smile illuminates even the darkest of corners. It’s contagious as I feel one form on my own lips.

“Aaron, I think we are on a little more personal terms than that.” I giggle, earning a snicker from a flabbergasted Jack. I pretend I don’t hear him enjoying this moment. It felt good to smile, throwing Aaron’s words back at him playfully. “Considering our current predicament, I believe it’s perfectly acceptable for you to join me in the bed. Plus, I don’t have any extra pillows or warm blankets.”

Amazingly, his addictive smile miraculously seems to beam even brighter. “Okay, I guess in this instance, that makes sense. Now come on beautiful, let's get ourselves some shut-eye.” He winks.

Of course, I had been called beautiful before, but hearing it from Aaron made it special. He truly seemed to mean it. Meeting my gaze as he said it instead of tracing my form in the way others do, making me feel like a s*x object. His actions had me believing that he was calling all of me beautiful, specifically my soul. Something that meant more to me than I would like to admit. It felt good to be accepted.

Crawling into bed, Aaron laid on his right side, away from me, on the very edge of the bed. “Aaron?”

“Hmm?”

“Roll over here please.” Turning over, he looks at me with concern. “Now scoot over towards the middle.” His face morphs into one of question, accompanied by a raised eyebrow. “First of all, I get that you’re trying to be polite, or a gentleman, or whatever, but there is no way that is comfortable. I won’t bite. At least not tonight.” We both chuckle and Aaron moves closer to me. “Second of all, if you’re okay with it, I would…” I tail off, my face warming as my confidence wavers. “I would, if you’re alright with it, feel more content if you would, umm… hold me for a bit. I mean, if you want.”

Looking at me with adoration, Aaron wraps his arms around me. “Of course princess.” Just like that, laying next to each other, snuggled together, sleep quickly embraced us.